International M&A transaction volumes along the battery value chain: Strategic investment implications

Greitemeier, Tim; Albrecht, Carina; Brockington, Reba; Eggers, Sebastian; Hansner, Lars; Kamp, Niklas; Simon, Hauke; Lux, Simon

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the international value streams associated with the battery industry, which plays a pivotal role in the global effort to combat climate change. This research provides an in-depth analysis of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the global battery market, as a tool for monitoring the innovation strategies of global enterprises in the various regional key markets. Prior research has demonstrated the efficacy of data science methods in the analysis of M&A data across a range of industries and technological domains. An exploratory analysis of a dataset comprising 913 deals from 2018 to 2022 was conducted to investigate the foreign and domestic contributions of North America, Europe, and Asia in relation to individual segments of the value chain. The results highlight North America as the most substantial deal value contributor, peaking in 2021, within the region and investment balance with other key markets. Further, the findings demonstrate that the value streams are largely driven by product manufacturers and enablers.